The medical travel industry is booming. But where? It is more important than ever to understand this growing marketplace, and ensure that you capitalise on the market’s untapped potential.

The venue for EMTC 2010 is Italy where there’s significant potential for medical travel and healthcare is a strategic issue for the Italian nation.

The EMTC 2010 in Italy is the ideal platform to meet international partners and benefit from the latest thinking on medical travel.

The conference will bring to health care providers in Italy a unique chance to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the Italian healthcare system and to plan for the future, with the implementation of the European Union Directive on Patient Mobility.

Participants

Previous major congresses on Medical Travel and Health Tourism in Europe have attracted around 300 participants. There is good reason to expect increased take-up in 2010, based on the following market drivers:

US citizens will look to Medical Travel for high quality, high-end medicine at affordable prices. Europe needs to demonstrate to medical travel agencies that it can provide outstanding quality of treatment and healthcare facilities

As European legislation advances, with the Patient Mobility Directive, the rush has already begun to establish European networks, supported by appropriate marketing

Italy is a premier tourism destination in Europe. This, combined with competitive healthcare packages for medical tourists, should see Italy compete with other destinations in the medical travel market

Singapore is home to over 4 million residents; all of whom benefit from a thriving biomedical industry, an integrated healthcare structure, a large base of skilled medical professionals, the latest in medical technology and an international standard judiciary system. These foundational elements, among others, have contributed significantly to Singapore’s longstanding reputation and healthcare capabilities as a bio-health hub and medical marvel destination in Asia. While all of these attributes are commendable, and places Singapore on the medical tourism, health and wellness map, there is one aspect that places them on the forefront as a world-class destination ~ that of the patient experience.

70-year-old Canadian resident, Marguerite, had a history of scoliosis since her teens. Although she had undergone two successful surgeries in the past, she still had recurrent back pain that flared up occasionally. Over the years, her pain ebbed and flowed, but became increasingly debilitating to the point where she could no longer work full-time as a layout editor. Finally in September 2008, Marguerite made her decision to travel to Singapore for her back problem upon hearing of Parkway Health’s excellent medical capabilities and healthcare facilities in Singapore. Upon receiving the necessary clinical care and pain management protocols she has been able to benefit from an overall higher quality of life since treatment.

Another international patient, U.S. resident Annie Bujakowski from Big Bear City, California flew over 9,000 miles for knee replacement surgery at Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore instead of pursuing surgical treatment options in the US. The surgery was performed successfully and achieved its desired clinical outcome, while resulting in significant savings to her employer as well.

Maybe it’s happened to you: you need an expensive medical procedure, but you don’t have the healthcare coverage to pay for it. Whether it’s heart surgery with the price tag of a house, dental work or plastic surgery, medical care is very expensive in the United States. So what about countries like Belgium, Mexico and India, where you can get surgery at a fraction of the cost? It’s called medical tourism, but is it safe? Here are the pros and cons, and what you should consider before going abroad to get surgery.

Pros

1. SavingsThe number one benefit is obviously significant savings. Take open heart surgery: in the U.S., you’ll pay upwards of $324,000, where in India, the surgery will cost you only $8,000. Extensive cosmetic dental work can set you back $8,000 in the States; in India, you’ll pay just $1,000.

2. No WaitWhere many procedures have waiting lists of a year or more, there’s little or no wait for medical care in many countries outside the U.S. For patients who are suffering (or worse, at death’s door), waiting can be excruciating, costing them time away from work and decreasing their quality of life.